'What's In Your Head' and The Face release in general might be the greatest chance that the entire funky/garage scene has had to survive in a world dominated by pop anthems and radio-friendly hooks (just don't tell Calculate this). So, as the way these things tend to work, here's the remix project. To compare it with its older brother is to see it fail to live up to expectations, but on its own it's still a solid slab of house insinuations and slinky garage meltdowns. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fHXCuJ5xP0 - and shit, we might as well use this as an excuse for another viewing of this gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSRIHOG3ifU&feature=related

In before some user (probably DallyLama or whatever the fuck his name is) goes DUBSTEP HURR DURR etc. As for the mix; well, it's not quite the step forward that Tempa needs to be making in a landscape dominated by post (insert whatever here), and following on from the heavy metal alchemy of Distance's Allstars mix Silkie and Quest also turn this into more of a showcase for Mala's Deep Medi label than anything else. But when that label happens to be Deep Medi that really isn't such a bad thing, is it. In the words of RA: "Nonetheless, if these are our dubstep "allstars" these days, then the genre isn't in such bad shape after all." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZfKRvvDUhI

For those that don't know, AMUS is the alias of Dave Huismans aka 2562. Beginning as a separate outlet for his more 4x4-leaning output AMUS has slowly morphed into one of the premium sources for top notch dubbed-out tech house, and Archive II represents his most straight forward, club-ready material yet. A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN1SxZXYRWM B: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKdHH7oXrbY

After his hit and miss chic Concealer release (the ep seemed to be designed for an audience of models and martinis), Greene is back in fine form with an excellent slab of ghostly house. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfLVVdsvZwE

One of the greatest DJs you'll probably never see finally gets the chance to work his wonders on a worldwide audience. Simply put it's a stunning mix that deserves every measure of your attention, and it's not likely to be bet anytime soon (well, DjRum's RA mix is a close second). Oh, and the mix ends with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJEbPjVDUGA

Speaking of DjRum.... one of the most interesting producers to emerge in the post pitchforkdiscoversdubstepandproceedstomisinterpreteverythingaboutit age. Switching effortlessly between broken 2step beats and carved on the walls techno (his Mountains EP is a modern classic, there I said it) DjRum is one to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIqmWZE943A

Some of the biggest tunes of 2011 get the now requisite remix treatment, including, of course, the massive Silo Pass (which might have overtaken Hyph Mngo in terms of mix appearances). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvZJtcwo7zo

NZ drum and bass artist joins Tempa and goes dubstep for a day and drops some of the most evil sounding beats of the year. There's something alive down there, right underneath our feet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOabOkIoZzE

One of the most unique drum and bass artists out there (a late entry, last year's Serendipity nearly stole the entire show), returns with another awe-inspiring collection of stellar hip hop-esque beat making. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A53ko19wa3A Free DL: http://noisetrade.com/fanu/

Since setting up Hum and Buzz with Optimum, Ikonika hasn't been too generous with her output over the last year. Thankfully I Make Lists more than makes up for the absence with an impressive collection of metallic dubstep junglism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpcLjpu3-1g

More young blood, more huge potential. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me3EFsfb_W4 For those looking to check him out further, start with The Like We Used To/Helter Skelter 12". A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qTumEaxuSE&feature=relmfu B: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxKK25_LBXo

After virtually every DJ and electronic print journo hyped Attaque up it was only natural that his debut LP would fail to live up to all the attention. And it wasn't because it was a bad release, but as someone who hadn't been around for anything more than a hot minute Attaque didn't quite have enough experience to pull off an entire album's worth of material. His main problem: every track virtually sounded the same. Flow begins to rectify this problem, and more than anything it shows that Attaque is certainly here to stay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ7JtT9uzvg

Honestly I'm getting a little sick of hearing about juke and footwork. The fact that every artist and his dog can't seem to make a tune without referencing it so bluntly (thanks Machinedrum) it's resurgence seems to be (at least for me anyway) over before it really began. Rashad isn't an imitator though; this man is old school, and there's no school like the old school. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK1RWoBlBAU&feature=related

People seem to love this guy's debut album, personally I think it sounds like My First Soundcloud Tunes. Since then though, Chymera has built up a rather impressive resume championed by the likes of Deetron and Claro Intelecto. This is the kind of stargazing, midnight techno rooftop parties were designed for. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC_m3QCnxSI

If Rashad is a member of the old school, then Traxman is the fuckin headmaster. Some of the greatest cut up ghetto house you'll hear this year, or any year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAciBVdEj74&feature=related

i will try and work my way through this list, but is there anything particularly emotional, depressing, or melancholy here? that's the type of electronic music i like, rather that the club beats, wubs, hi-hats on steroids tybe of stuff. i figured maybe from talking on here and from you listening to my ep you might have a good idea of what i'm looking for.

Wasn't too much of a fan of their later stuff, but their early releases were solid. Check out Wiley (it's kind of an obvious rec, but if you haven't listened/heard of him before he'll be up your alley)

3 and 15 are great, I need to give the new dubstep allstars another full listen before I decide what to give it although I was a little underwhelmed by it, mainly because like you said its not really a step forward from Tempa but rather a run through Deep Medi. Tempa has been putting out some biiiigggg tunes this year though

"You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son"

Listened to Kahn, DjRum, and AMUS today. Loved them all. The only thing I'd heard by Kahn before was his single Illy/Tehran. Illy is such a sweet thumping dubstep track, I was kind of surprised by the direction of the new release but enjoyed it all the same.

Oh I listened to that Oneman mix at work today too. Whole thing was sweet, but that Nu-Birth song "Anytime" on it was unreal. When those horns hit it took all my restraint not to get up at my desk and just start dancin away. Gonna grab a few more of these for tomorrow.

Yeah, it just comes out of nowhere. I knew like 90% of the tracks on the mix already, but he still manages to surprise you the way he implements them and works them into the fold. You should grab his Rinse mix as well

I'll probably check his rinse mix out at some point, gonna just plow away at some '12 stuff for now though. I may need to bother you for a link to that DjRum Mountains EP at some point too (that is, if you're still willing to bend the rules as staff?). Also, finally got my long distance open water worker vinyl in the mail, gonna see about that 3 very soon.

It's not J & B's best work, but Pearson added some nice groove into the mix

Speaking of Blawan, I still reckon he's dropped the best mix in Fact's series. It just pisses me off how there's no tracklist. I'm pretty good with recognizing stuff, but I can only pick up a handful of tracks on there

Yeah I really dig that too, a lot of acidy vibes. I was going by this: http://www.factmag.com/2012/05/17/kick-drum-download-blawans-most-recent-boiler-room-set/ when I listened to it, not sure how accurate it is but it pointed me in the right direction on more than a few tracks.

Oh right yeah. IDK how I mixed those up, but yeah I've heard that one too, though I don't know a tracklist for that one. There's a bit of crossover between the two, but yeah I hate mixes that don't have tracklists. I guess I just don't get the point.

I kinda get it, the whole anonymity of the thing (not in a Burial kind of way though), and just keeping everything all white label and on dubplates until shit gets released and you're like "oh shit, that song". But yeah it's annoying because I wanna keep the damn thing but I refuse to have single files for mixes, gotta separate them up

Yeah I guess I get that mindset. I'm not opposed to a few tracks listed as ??? in a mix though. But it's never a huge deal. It is damn frustrating though when you hear an absolutely killer track in a mix and can't get an ID on it. I guess it's part of the game.

If only those lists could come with download/stream links. It's always a fucking pain in the ass to
find all that stuff myself. Probably the main reason I haven't been listening to dev recs 24/7 for the
last 2 months. Because I'm really digging most of that stuff lately.

Let me know what you think Stranger. Don't get me wrong, it's not a terrible release by any means. But like I said in the list, it's just kinda amateurish, like an artist's first tunes after picking up whatever production software he could afford

Yeah I'm finally starting to warm up to it as well. I like it when he brings the whole boiler room vibe into his tracks, but I know he has the potential to balance the line between that murky industrial vibe and full on anthem bangers and he needs to realise it

Awesome, I really do think it's up to his standard. I'm not sure I know what you mean with the distinction there though. Which direction do you think he's more leaning towards between the two that's putting off the balance?

I may be a little biased just because of how much I've loved all his previous releases, but honestly I have no complaints about where he's going with any of his productions. He's been all over the place and everything he's put out, even at its worst, has been damn interesting. Which isn't to say that I think it would be wrong to think he's slipped up with a certain style or sound he's going for now, but I think Blawan just doing whatever he wants to do is a great thing.

What I meant was that he's one of the few artists who can genuinely pull off both styles within the same track and not make it seem cheesy or over indulgent. I just wish LDOWW was more in that vein, than being this kind of ultra cool warehouse rave soundtrack thing

Ahh, alright word. Personally I think he found a really nice balance between his funky trademark
percussion that hits really hard, even if it's a bit more 4 on the floor this time, and his more
obvious garage aesthetic that exists in the melodic and vocal tracks of his songs. Like the more
techno-oriented tracks utilize the aesthetic from his previous stuff, which always had a bit of a
darker styling, in a way that works just as well if not moreso because of its backdrop.

But when I listen to some of it, especially 6 to 6 lick, I realize it might be a bit TOO quirky.
Doesn't affect me personally though.

Yeah I kind of agree. I mean all his stuff has a really awesome sound so IDK that I could decide which I think is best, but it's hard for me to disagree with where he's at now. It just feels like such a raw, impacting sound now.